Author: Chaltikian Arsine

ARARATBANK’S BONDS SOLD ON SECONDARY MARKET

Noyan Tapan
Jun 26 2007

YEREVAN, JUNE 26, NOYAN TAPAN. 44 economic entities, including 33
natural persons, participated in the placement of Araratbank CJSC’s
10 thousand bonds of the total value of 250 mln drams (about 714
thousand USD) in May 2007. The sale of bonds has started on the
secondary market – the Armenian Exchange Stock and outside it. The
Chairman of Araratbank’s board Ashot Osipian stated this at the June
26 press conference.

Reminding that they intend to make Araratbank an open joint stock
company, A. Osipian noted that work is now being done to determine
the type of shares to be issued by the bank, their nominal value,
placement terms and forms.

In response to NT correspondent’s question, A. Osipian said that he
is not in favor of the idea of having an institutional shareholder,
although many offers have been received. "It is important to have a
lot of small shareholders," he underlined. In his words, they are
taking steps to change Araratbank’s regulations and introduce the
institution of protecting the interests of small shareholders.

According to A. Osipian, the bank’s assets currently amount to 14
billion drams, its capital makes 4.4 billion drams.

UNESCO MISSION TO INVESTIGATE THE STATE OF ARMENIAN MONUMENTS IN NAKHIJEVAN

ArmRadio.am
26.06.2007 11:16

The Republic of Armenia has got the UNESCO mission to arrive in
Nakhijevan to assess the state of Armenian cultural monuments in Old
Jugha. Acting Press Secretary of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs
told Armenpress that it’s not a secret that Armenian monuments in
on the territory of Azerbaijan, especially in Nakhijevan, have been
systematically demolished.

The question has been repeatedly raised in UNESCO, the UN and European
structures.

Letters have been sent to UNESCO Secretary General in 1998, 2002
and 2005, presenting the situation and urging to take measures
to stop the cultural genocide against the Armenian monuments of
Nakhijevan. According to Vladimir Karapetyan, the numerous steps in
the direction of drawing the attention of the international community
to the intentional destruction of Armenian khachkars in Nakhijevan
in 2006 helped break the ice of silence.

"Armenia highly appreciates the visit of the UNESCO mission to assess
the state of monuments," Vladimir Karapetyan said.

It should be noted that when Armenia demanded to send a mission to
Old Jugha, Azerbaijan voiced tha the mission should investigate the
state of monuments in Nagorno Karabakh.

According to Vladimir Karapetyan, RA Foreign Minister VartaN Oskanian
has mentioned in the letter to UNESCO that for its part Armenia
is ready to arrange the visit of a fact-finding mission to Nagorno
Karabakh in case of consent of the authorities of Armenia and Nagorno
Karabakh.

The UNESCO mission will be headed by British MP Edward O’Hara. The
date of tehvist is not certain yet.

ILLEGAL CONSTRUCTION OF MULTISTORY BLOCKS MAY BE RESUMED IN AREA OF BOTANIC GARDEN

ArmInfo
2007-06-25 15:58:00

Illegal building of multistory blocks may be resumed in the area of
the Botanic Garden under pretence of creating an ethnographic center
for tourists. It is instructive to recall that some 3 years ago,
the Association of Agro-ecologists of Armenia headed by Chairman Avet
Hayrapetyan leased 25ha of the Botanic Garden area for 25 years. The
Association planned to create an ethnographic center in 5ha of the
above territory. Instead, a large-scale construction was launched
and exotic species of plants were ruined. In 2006 after parliamentary
special hearings, Yerevan Municipality cancelled the lease contract.

Speaking at a press conference, Monday, Eleanora Gabrielyan, president
of Armenian Botanic Society, said that A. Hayrapetyan appealed to the
Economic Court against the decision of the municipality. She explained
that the Botanic Garden leadership leased the above area for heavy
financial problems. "Financing by the Botanic Institute of the National
Academy of Sciences is too miserable for the garden to exist. Under
the contract, the Association of Agro-ecologists assumed the care
for fruit garden, which makes up 12 of the leased 25 ha. The contact
seemed to be a good way out of the situation. No one could imagine
that the leasers would attempt to take advantage of our helplessness
for personal gain," E. Gabrielyan said. At the same time, she did not
rule out that A. Hayrapetyan may prefer a termination fee or another
area for construction. She urged the responsible agencies and mass
media to help saving the valuable plants from destructive construction.

"We have reasons for concern as the Economic Court may adopt a decision
in favor of the Association," E. Gabrielyan said.

BLACK SEA ECONOMIC COOPERATION SUMMIT IN ISTANBUL
By Hakob Chakrian

AZG Armenian Daily
26/06/2007

The Black Sea Economic Cooperation Summit launched in Istanbul
yesterday. Turkish President Ahmed Nejdet Sezer held an opening speech
at the summit. The summit is dedicated to the 13th anniversary of
the organization. All of the 12 member-states of the organization
were present at the summit at the level of the presidents, prime
ministers and foreign ministers. According to the Turkish Public TV,
the agenda of the summit will include the energy and communication
issues in the Black Sea basin and the neighbouring regions. It is
supposed that the Summit will greatly contribute to the further
activities of the organization.

Within the framework of the summit, Sezer receievd the presidents of
Georgia, Azerbaijan and Serbia, as well as met with Russian President
Vladimir Putin. Turkish Prime Minister rejep Taip erdoghan met with
Putin also.

"Milliet" stated that the Armenian Foreign Minister Vartan Oskanian
and Turkish FM Abdullah Giul met before the opening of the summit
at "Cheraghan" palace. The meeting was held within closed doors and
none of the TV channels was allowed to shoot something. The meeting
lasted half an hour. "Miliet" also pointed out that the contradictions
between Russia and Turkey in the spheres of energetics had big impact
on the bilateral meetings.

AZG Armenian Daily #118, 23/06/2007

Industry

ARMENIAN-RUSSIAN DIAMOND CUTTING ENTERPRISE TO BE ESTABLISHED

REGNUM news agency informs that the Russian "Alrossa" diamond
processing company and the DCA company, Armenia, came to agreement of
establishing a joint diamond cutting enterprise in Armenia.

Head of the International Association of Armenian Jewellers, Gagik
Abrahamian, held corresponding talks in Moscow.

PRESS RELEASE
Catholicosate of Cilicia
Communication and Information Department
Contact: V.Rev.Fr.Krikor Chiftjian, Communications Officer
Tel: (04) 410001, 410003
Fax: (04) 419724
E- mail: [email protected]
Web:

PO Box 70 317
Antelias-Lebanon

Armenian version:

THE ARMENIAN CATHOLICOSATE OF CILICIA PARTICIPATES IN THE 16TH MEETING
OF THE BOARD OF TRUSTEES OF "ARMENIA" FUND

The 16th meeting of the Board of Trustees of "Armenia" Fund was officially
inaugurated on June 19 in Yerevan under the auspices of His Excellency
Robert Kocharian, President of the Republic of Armenia. Primate of the
Diocese of Tehran, Archbishop Sebouh Sarkissian attended the meeting on
behalf of His Holiness Aram I.

Addressing the participants, the Archbishop conveyed His Holiness’
greetings to them and the President. He then happily announced that the
Catholicosate of Cilicia has ventured on the projects of building a village
called "New Cilicia" in Karabakh, the funding of which is being realized by
all the Dioceses of the Catholicosate.

It is worth noting that the Fund completes its 15th anniversary this year
and according to President Kocharian it has had fruitful output during this
period. During the opening session of the meeting, President Kocharian
honored 10 Diaspora Armenian philanthropists.
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View the photo here: .htm#2

ROBERT SIMMONS APPRECIATES THE SERVICE OF ARMENIAN PEACEKEEPERS IN KOSOVO

ArmRadio.am
20.06.2007 17:44

On June 20 RA Foreign Minister Vartan Oskanian received NATO Special
Representative for the South Caucasus and Central Asia, Ambassador
Robert Simmons.

The Foreign Minster stressed the importance of periodic political
discussions with the Treaty on foreign policy and security issues.

Later the parties exchanged views on the process of execution of the
Armenia-NATO Individual Partnership Action Plan (IPAP). Informing that
on June 22 he will participate in the sitting of the Armenian IPAP
Commission, Ambassador Simmons highly assessed Armenia’s efforts in
the direction of accomplishment of the Plan, as well as the service
of Armenian peacekeepers in Kosovo.

Ambassador Simmons turned to the developments related to regional
security, NATO – Russia dialogue and the future arrangements in
NATO framework.

At the Ambassador’s request, Vartan Oskanian presented the latest
developments in the peace process of the Karabakh conflict settlement.

TURKISH GOVERNMENT SHOULD FIND STRENGTH TO CONDEMN YOUNGTURKS’ CRIME, PAOLO TAVIANI SAYS

Noyan Tapan
Jun 20 2007

YEREVAN, JUNE 20, NOYAN TAPAN. "Though no great pressures were
exerted on the Turkish side during the shooting of the film Lark
Farm, nevertheless, negative responses were inevitable," Italian film
director Paolo Taviani reported at the press conference organized in
Yerevan. In his words, Turkish newspapers have repeatedly touched upon
this subject, mentioning that within the framework of the Council of
Europe the shooting of a film is financed, which is against Turkey’s
policy.

In P. Taviani’s words, representatives of the Turkish Foreign Ministry
had also applied to the Italian Minister of Culture asking why they
permitted the shooting of a film, which is aimed against the Turkish
people. In response to the Turkish side they said that "art is free in
Italy." "Italy had Fascism, which was condemned, Germany had Nazism,
which, though with difficulty, nevertheless, was condemned. Then why
cannot the Turkish government find the strength to condemn the Young
Turks’ crime?" P. Taviani said. He expressed the hope that in future
years the Lark Farm will be also shown in Turkey.

Film producer Gracia Volpi said that they had applied to the European
Commission to get assistance for shooting the film. Only Turkey was
against during the discussions, which, of course, did not impede them
from providing financial assistance.

ASSYRIAN DELEGATION MEETS EP MEMBERS ON IRAQ, TURKISH GENOCIDE

Assyrian International News Agency
EasternStar News Agency, AINA

J une 15 2007

Brussels — The Assyrian Genocide Conference, hosted on the 26th of
March this year in the EU Parliament, received positive responses
from both inside and outside the European Parliament.

Yesterday a delegation from the Seyfo Centre, which studies the
genocide of Assyrians by Turks in World War One as well as other
genocide issues, returned to Brussels to meet various members of
parliament to discuss the Assyrian question in Iraq and how to
continue the Seyfo (the Assyrian genocide of 1915) issue in the EU
Parliament. The delegation met the chairman of the CSU in the EU
Parliament, Mr. Markus Ferber and Eva-Britt Svensson, GUE/INGL.

After the removal of Saddam, it was widely expected that life in
Iraq would be better and safer, but the current reality shows the
opposite. Many things are now worse than before. The Christians live
in fear and Assyrians are being persecuted and are being cleansed from
Iraq. The democratic forces from around the world seem powerless. No
one can hear the screaming of the Assyrians. The international forces
which have the real power don’t seem to care about human rights and
about Assyrians; they are only busy with their own interests.

The Seyfo Center delegation presented a paper on the desperate crisis
(report) of the Assyrian Christians (also known as Chaldeans and
Syriacs) in Iraq to the members of the parliament and asked for
emergency assistance from the EU Parliament. Ms. Svensson expressed
great concern and committed to bringing the issue to the attention of
the EU Parliament. Mr. Ferber was also very concerned and said that
this is very important and must be solved, as nobody cares about
the Assyrians in Iraq, they are threatened and killed every day,
and many of them flee to Jordan and Syria. He will also bring the
issue to the European Parliament.

The Seyfo Center delegation talked with the members of the Parliament
about the next step to take regarding the Assyrian Genocide of 1915.

Ms. Svensson and Mr. Ferber suggested the formation of a commission
of historians to compile all information about the 1915 genocide. The
European Union’s resolution about the Armenian Genocide failed to
mention any other ethnic minorities, like Greeks and Assyrians.

The Seyfo Center will continue to press the European Parliament to
include Assyrians and Greeks in any future resolutions on the 1915
Genocide.

MPs ELECTED BY OYP AND ZHARANGUTIUN ELECTORAL ROLLS RECEIVE THEIR MANDATES FROM CEC

Noyan Tapan
Jun 13 2007

YEREVAN, JUNE 13, NOYAN TAPAN. Eight representatives from Orinats
Yerkir Party elected by proportional system as a result of the May 12
NA elections received their deputy mandates from the Central Electoral
Commission on June 13. Deputies elected by Zharangutiun Party’s
electoral roll received their seven mandates the day before. Noyan
Tapan correspondent was informed about it by Tsovinar Khachatrian,
CEC Spokesperson.

It is noteworthy that the above mentioned two parties had refused to
take part in the official ceremony of giving mandates held in the
evening of June 6 at CEC, as well as in the June 7 sittings of NA
first session. The oppositionists motivated their step by challenging
the results of the parliamentary elections at the Constitutional Court.